Egyptian Art
Originally created by Mr. Douglas Darracott, Plano West HS Plano, TX Edited by Rachel Buckley
Egyptian Architecture
Egypt Videos Mastaba
Imhotep. The Stepped Pyramid of King Djoser (Zoser), c. 2675- 2625 BCE, Saqqara stepped pyramid mastaba and serdab
notes • Step pyramids began with small mastabas • They were considered the Pharaoh’s “stairway to heaven” • 1st known use of columns in history • Imhotep is the worlds first known artist/architect and his name appears at the base of a tomb statue • He was also a physician and magician • He was viewed as the god of medicine and healing and had shrines in parts of Egypt and Nubia
The Great Pyramids at Gizeh, 2600-2475 BCE
Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure Notes •The largest pyramid was built for Khufu •It took 20 years to build •It used to have a polished limestone veneer, which made it taller. •The sides of the pyramid are equilateral triangles that face north, south, east, west and line up perfectly with the points on a compass. •The smaller pyramid are for his wives and mother. •The pyramid shape duplicates the suns rays streaming though an opening in a cloud •Khafre’s pyramid is the second smallest and is accompanied by the Great Sphinx •Menkaure’s pyramid is the smallest.
The Great Sphinx (Gizeh), c. 2575-2525 BCE, sandstone
Sphinx at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada Notes
• 65 feet high • Sphinx means “strangler”, and was first given by the Greeks • The head of a pharaoh and the body of a lion. • There are Sphinxes with Ram heads associated with the god Amun. • The most immense stone sculpture in the round ever made by man. • It is made out of limestone bedrock.
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir-el Bahri), c. 1473- 1458 BCE
Left: Figure of Hatshepsut enthroned, c. 1470 BCE, limestone
Notes
• Located on the western bank of the Nile (Thebes)/rock cut temple • One of the most beautiful temples, their were plants on the terraces • Queen Hatshepsut was the stepmother to Thutmose III, who became regent for Thutmose III when Thutmose II, her brother died. • First known female monarch • Many of her portraits were destroyed after her death. • In portraits she appears as a male pharaoh with royal headdress and kilt and sometimes the false beard. • Construction took 15 years • The temple was situated in a valley considered sacred for over 500 years to the feminine goddess connected with the funeral world. Temple of Ramses II (Abu Simbel), c. 1290-1224 BCE figures of king outside the temple figures of king inside the temple (atlantids) and sunken reliefs
• Dedicated to the gods, Ptah (the creator god of Memphis), Amun-Re the god of Thebes, and Re-Harakhte the Sun god of heliopolis and Ramses II • The large statues are Ramses II • Cartouches give his name • Smaller sculptures between the legs and at the base of the sculptures represent members of the royal family • Each sculpture weighs almost 2.5 million lbs • Rock cut temple • Visitors see a reconstructed temple that has been relocated to higher ground. • Located on Lake Nasser. Temple at Luxor, c. 1290-1224 BCE
Diagram of a pylon facade Hummer at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada Left: Statue of Ramses II atTemple at Luxor Below: Obelisks at Karnak Left: Aerial view of the Temple of Luxor Below: a drawing of a djed pillar and plan of the temple Notes close to the Nile River Dedicated to Amon-Re King of the gods continuous place of worship until recent times built by king Amenhotep Added to by King Tut and Ramses II once was a Christian and a Coptic church then buried beneath the city of Luxor Then a mosque
Sculpture
The Palette of King Narmer, c. 3100-3000 BCE, green silt stone Narmer in Hieroglyphics Narmer wears Cow represents the crown of the goddess upper Egypt. Hathor Notes • Maybe the worlds Papyrus oldest historic The pharaoh is represents drawn bigger lower Egypt document to show his • Represents the power. unification of upper and lower Egypt • two sided Dead enemies, represents to • Resembles an eye conquering of makeup palette lower Egypt. but this one is too Servant large to be used Holding the kings shoes… for that says that the • Celebrates king pharaoh has Narmer’s victory divine power. over lower Egypt. Narmer wearing the crown of Lower Egypt
Dead enemies of the Pharaoh
Taming of wild animals represent the unification of Egypt
Bull represents the strength of the Pharaoh Scarab Pectoral from the Valley of the Kings Tomb of Tutankhamun, c. 1325 BCE Materials-Lapis, Turquoise, Gold, and other precious stones Notes: -heart scarab-placed over the heart of the mummy and meant to be weighed against the feather of truth and cast with a spell from the book of the dead -Associated with the creator god Atum -also associated with the sun god Amun-Ra -Scarab was thought to push the sun across the sky -they thought the beetle was born from the Earth
Khafre (Gizeh) c. 2575-2525 BCE, diorite
Notes: Funerary Statue Diorite stone imported from 400 miles away Statue is a resting place for the KA Was in the pharaoh’s temple near the Sphinx. Horus depicted as a falcon guards the back of his head. Lotus flowers and papyrus represent the unification of Egypt.
Tiye (Gurob) c. 1353-1335 BCE, wood
Notes
• Queen of the 18th dynasty • Married Amenhotep when he was a prince. • The first queen to have her name on official documents. • Controversy about where she came from • Was king Tut’s grandmother. • Originally attached to a bigger video statue
Seated scribe (Saqqara), c.2450-2350 BCE, painted limestone
-Realistic because he is not a king -eyes are made out of - precious stone and rock crystal/copper clips hold his eyes in -a little belly to show wealth -would have been holding a brush or stylus -meant to only be seen from the front… Video
Foot stool notes- -It represents his separation from the earth -his enemies are carved and painted to show his power Thutmose. Nefertiti, from Tell el-Amarna, c. 1353-1335 BCE, painted limestone video Notes • Life size • Found in an artist’s studio • This sculpture was not meant for a tomb, it was the artist’s model for other artwork featuring the queen • Temporary Materials, the eyes would have been inlaid with precious stones • Limestone covered in plaster to make it easier to sculpt. • Perfect Symmetry • Akhenaten’s wife-may have shared power with the Pharaoh • Tiye’s daughter in law • King Tut’s Mom
Akhenaton, from the temple of Amen-Re (Karnak), c. 1353-1335 BCE, sandstone -He started a monotheistic religion starring Aten -he started a new, more realistic and less stylized way to create art -more of a portrait
Painting Egyptian gylphs symbolizing (left to right) life (the ankh), stability (the djed pillar), beauty, joy, and protection The tomb of Sennefer, c. 1410 BCE (time of Amenhotep II) Notes: -Sennefer and his wife are worshipping god s of the afterlife -the Jackals represent Anubis and are laying on a shrine. They are blue because that is the color of life and rebirth. -Sennefer was the mayor of Thebes -This is tomb is known as the “tomb of the vineyards” because of all the plantlife paintings throughout the tomb. -The hawk headed god Amen –Ra is represented -also the pharaoh who wears the crown of upper Egypt. - Fowling scene from the tomb of Nebamun (Thebes, Egypt), c.1400-1350 BCE, fresco on dry plaster
Notes • Nebamun was the pharaoh Amenhotep III’s accountant. • This is a scene of him hunting with his wife and daughter. • He is on a boat with his daughter and she is holding onto his leg. She is looking the other way so she doesn't have to see her dad kill the bird. • They are extremely dressed up like for a family portrait. • There is an Ibis which is a symbol of the god Thoth. • The birds and reeds are bright blue to represent rebirth. • Blue is also a symbol of the Nile.
Musicians and dancers from the tomb of Nebamun (Thebes), c. 1400-1350 BCE
rare attempt at a frontal pose • From Nebamun’s tomb • Shows a feast in his honor • These are musicians and dancers • There is a tower of wine • It is a rare attempt at a frontal pose Garden of Nebamun (Thebes), c. 1400-1350 BCE Notes • His garden would have looked very similar to this one. • Egyptians had plants and trees imported from other places. • These trees are sycamore fig, date palm and Dom palms. They are shown in different stages of ripeness • Bird’s eye view • On the right of the pool a goddess leans out of the tree offering fruits and drinks to him • Painted in bright shades of blue and green Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer (Thebes), c. 1290-1280 BCE, painted papyrus scroll
Video • Maat-goddess of truth, represented by a feather • Hu-Nefer was a scribe • Thoth was the scribe of the gods • Anubis leads Hu-Nefer to Notes- judgement • Pyramid text- • Weighs his heart against a included feather. resurrection spells, • Ammit-crocodile head, lion or charms, passwords, leopard body, hind legs of a and prayers-on hippo would devour the heart if papyrus it was unworthy. • They were • He would also have to memorize individualized for secret prayers and recite them to the owner. Osiris. If he forgot them they were probably inscribed on his coffin.
receiving the reward of eternal life The Creation of the Heaven and the Earth, Book of the Dead of Nesitanebtasheru, c. 1025 BCE Egyptian Art